Wolthausen named special teams coordinator; Wallace to coach tight ends and assist on special teams

WEST LAFAYETTE – The meetings were extensive and exhaustive, looking back at not only the 2018 season but going back deeper to examine everything that was accomplished – or not accomplished – on Purdue’s special teams.

Friday's announcement that Kevin Wolthausen will oversee the program’s special teams and Ryan Wallace will assist in that area finalizes what was expected.

Purdue started spring practice with Wolthausen, who will continue to assist on the defensive line, and Wallace working with the tight ends. Spring practice ended that way and it’s the direction Brohm will go for now.

But the emphasis heading into the 2019 season is executing a plan to highlight the dynamic Rondale Moore in the return game. Moore averaged 6.8 yards on 12 punt returns but also had numerous fair catches to avoid poor field position. He averaged 20.1 yards on 33 kickoff returns.

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Special teams and defense coach Kevin Wolthausen looks on as players warm up during football practice Thursday, August 2, 2018, at Purdue.(Photo: John Terhune/Journal & Courier, )

Modest numbers, but ones that need to increase to make a difference in close games as the Boilermakers look to climb up the Big Ten West standings.

Although rules have changed to reduce the number of kickoff returns, Moore still has plenty of value in this area. His longest return last season was 48 yards, but there’s an increasing desire to make sure the Boilermakers benefit from Moore’s presence before he leaves the program.

So much that Brohm recently brought back Tony Levine, who ran Purdue’s special teams during the 2017 season, along with coaching the tight ends. Levine spent three days inside the Football Performance Complex dissecting film with Brohm, Wolthausen and Wallace to help put together a strategy.

“We wanted to get a plan together of what we needed to do to get better and how to utilize Rondale Moore better,” Brohm said. “We didn’t do a good job of giving him space when he’s that dynamic.

“I feel like after getting an exhaustive three days of full study on it, we have a better idea of what direction to go and how to try and get that done.”

In the end, Brohm stayed in house to help the Boilermakers push forward in this critical area after a pair of 6-6 regular seasons.

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“I think coach Wolthausen has been around me and what we’ve done before and has coached special teams a long time and knows what we think we need to get done,” Brohm said. “Ryan Wallace has been around me and our special teams before and I think he knows what we would like to get done and of course they know our personnel over the years.

“They are aware of what we have, who we have, how to use them and who can do something and who can’t. That knowledge I think it’s there.”

Wallace completed his third season as the program’s offensive/special team quality control assistant. Meanwhile, Wolthausen joined Brohm’s program in quality control but was elevated to an assistant coach prior to the 2018 season.

This is more than just about Moore’s returns. There are coverage units on punts and kickoffs. Purdue allowed 21.4 yards on 32 kickoff returns last season and 7.6 yards on 13 punt returns.

It’s more about than just adding more athletic bodies to special teams. Brohm said size plays a crucial role and the lack of depth at linebacker isn’t giving the Boilermakers many options.

“We’ve got to make sure – while we want speed and athleticism at certain positions – we have to have some size that can run and hit too,” Brohm said. “Those are normally the linebackers, the hybrid defensive ends, even some physical tight ends or physical fullbacks/running backs, we were probably a little short there last year.

“We need to do a better job of helping those guys and determining matchups based on our size and who can do what.”